Rapid’s New Table Tennis Champion 2017

Suzanne Whitton • July 3, 2017

When we moved into our new office premises at the end of 2015, we wanted to provide our employees with an activity that would get them away from their desks for 15 minutes, improve morale, as well encouraging social interaction between staff.

A company called, ‘In the Loop’ suggests workplace table tennis as providing this and more! In fact they state 7 reasons why table tennis is the way forward:

Promotes health and well-being .
Rewards staff – makes them feel valued.
Is fully inclusive – can be enjoyed by adults of all abilities.
Energises – helps to develop thinking and decision making skills and aids concentration.
Is a powerful retention tool – improves staff morale, encourages them to stay on site and spend time away from their desk.
Increases creativity – having a fun work environment can be a catalyst for creativity.

With that list in front of us, it seemed like a no-brainer! We’ve been playing table tennis daily for two years now and can pay testament to the above list being true.

We’ve held three Rapid Table Tennis Championships so far, with our Managing Director, Jeff Whitton, winning the first one and our Sales Manager, Jessica Loomes, taking the title from him last year.

Jeff was knocked out in the semi-finals this year and the final took place earlier this week with Jessica Loomes (reigning champion) going head to head with Rapid’s Sales Executive, Steven Newton.

Steven started off strong, winning the first game with a 21-13 victory. Thirty minutes later and the score was 2 sets all in a ‘first to three’ match. It was anyone’s game, until the ping pong ball split in two just before the final set!

A three-day break left all the spectators on tenterhooks and the two finalists ready to go head to head for the last time.

It was a tense match but Steve finally took the crown with a score of 21-19 in the final set! Steven was only too pleased to take the title of Rapid Table Tennis Champion from Jess.